Bright Dioptase crystals that appear to be stalactitic in form but are actually overgrown on needle-like crystals of an unidentified brown mineral. The specimen is columnar in form with bright sparkly crystals on all sides. From the James Houran thumbnail collection who obtained it from the Sacco collection.This specimen was part of the special exhibit 'African Thumbnail Treasures' at the 2012 Munich mineral show. The Dioptase is especially bright and sparkly.

Cuprite crystals to 1.5cm on an uncommonly wide, flat Chrysocolla covered matrix. These came out years ago and are among my favorite Cuprite specimens as the Chrysocolla really sets off the Cuprite crystals. Crystals are undamaged with a few on the far right completely covered by the Chrysocolla.

Red micro crystals forming rod-like groups in striking contrast to the matrix of yellow Ettringite crystals. Uncommonly attractive specimen of this very rare member of the Garnet group, which typically occurs as dark, unattractive specimens. With this specimen you get both rarity and beauty. This specimen was part of the special exhibit 'African Thumbnail Treasures' at the 2012 Munich mineral show.

Light pink gem crystal in the rare dihexagonal dipyramid form. This is one of 3 such crystals obtained by Frank Melanson in 2011. This crystal (and one of the other two) have a rounded, psuedo-isometric appearance, looking similar in form to a garnet crystal. For more information about these odd crystals, see the article here.